MOSCOW: Russia's hopes of winning a place in the Fed Cup final suffered a setback as world number two Maria Sharapova dropped out through injury just days ahead of the semi-final with Germany.
Before Sharapova's withdrawal, Russia looked favourites to win the semi-final as she has been joined by 25th-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam winner, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (38th), and Elena Vesnina (71st).
The 29-year-old Kuznetsova, three-time Fed Cup champion, has a chance to become Russia's most successful player in Fed Cup history if she wins just one more rubber.
"I enjoy so much playing in the Fed Cup," Kuznetsova, who is currently level with Elena Likhovtseva and Elena Makarova on 26 wins, said.
"It comes from my heart to play for my country. It's just a huge pleasure to play it."
Russian team skipper Anastasia Myskina, the country's first woman to win a Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2004, the year she spearheaded their first Fed Cup victory, named former world mumber two Vera Zvonareva,as a replacement for Sharapova.
Zvonareva, who is currently tanked 137th in the world, will make her first Fed Cup appearance since 2011.
Myskina, who retired as a player in 2007 and took over the Fed Cup captaincy in 2014, said she believed that despite the absence of the 2012 Olympic runner-up Sharapova her team remained strong and competitive.
"We have a magnificent squad," Myskina told a news conference on Wednesday.
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